Peanut harvesting device



April 5, 1949. c. T. DAVIS PEANUT HARVESTING DEVI'CE Filed June 16, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l W a Attorney;

April 5, 1949. c. T. DAVIS PEANUT HARVESTING DEVICE 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1945 April 5, 1949. c. T. DAVIS PEANUT HARVE S TING DEVKCE Filed June 16, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .ii ilii Inventor Attorneys Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES. *PATENT OFFICE 24366984 rmnurnimvas'rmosnnvlon Charles T. Davis, Stockdale, Tex. Application June 161945Serial No. 599,909

1 Claims (01. 55-9) This invention relatesto "a peanut harvesting device, and more "particularly to'such 'a 'device adapted for the shaking andshocking of peanut Plants.

A primary object of this invention is the provision 'of an-improved device adapted to agitate peanut plants to remove the earth therefrom, and convey the sameto asuit'able container or receptacle'therefor. 1 T

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device which will simultaneously harvest a large number of rows of peanut plants or the like.

: Still another object-is the provision of such a device adapted to act automatically, when towed by any suitablemeans, such as a tractor or the like.

Other objects will in partb obvious and in part be pointed out'hereinafter.

Still further objects reside' in the combinations of elements, arrangements bf parts,'"and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown apreferred:

embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of device embodying the instant inventive concept.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the device as viewed from the opposite side.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the main drive shaft, the axle being shown in elevation.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of one of the crank shafts, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view through a constructional detail comprising the plant lifting element.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is generally indicated at ID a frame comprised of side pieces II connected at their extremities by tranversely extending end pieces I2. Frame I is supported by wheels I3 carried by an axle I4 journaled in suitable lugs I depending from the transverse members I l, and front wheels [6 positioned in swivelable sockets I! carried by depending-members I 8 secured to the front portion of frame I 0. I

ward of members I2, and is adapted to be engaged by any suitable towing vehicle, such as a tractor or thelike.

Positioned at an intermediate point in alignedrelation, on each of members ll, area pair of downwardly depending lugs 25, provided with; apertures-forming journals, between-which ex-. tends a crankshaft 26 comprised of a plurality of oppositely disposed crank arms 21 (see Figures Band 4) e a Y Positioned at a point adjacent the rear wheels, and secured tothe longitudinally extending mem-* hers I I are a second pair of upstanding projections or 1ugs30, extending between which and' suitably journaled therein is a second crank shaft 3| provided with a plurality of crank arms oppositely disposed, 32. The lugs or projections 30 alsohave journaled therein a jack shaft 33.

Each of the crank shafts 21 and 32 has a transversely extending pin-35 and 36, respectively, positioned between the bifurcated arms thereof, which plins engage. respectively in lugs 31 and 38 depending at spaced points from tubular members 39. The tubular members 39 comprise the lifting elements of the device, and are each provided with a downwardly depending rear extremity 40-, and a plurality of serrations or teeth 4| extending longitudinally therealong. At their lower extremities each of the members 39 is provided with a downwardly depending arcuate portion 42, to the extremity of which a compression spring 43 terminating in a suitable digging point 44 comprised of wood or the like (see Figure 8). The arrangement is such that the members are oppositely disposed with respect to the crank arms 21 and 32 in such manner that alternate members 39 are depressed to and slightly below the ground level, While the remaining alternate members are raised simultaneously. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown there are six of these members, or three oppositely disposed pairs, but it will be understood that the frame I9 may be made of any desired dimensions to accommodate as many rods 39 and their corresponding digging points 44 as may be desirable or advantageous.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that when the crank shafts 2'! and 32 are rotated, in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, that alternate members 39 dig into the earth slightly and raise therefrom with a reciprocatory movement, the teeth 4| guide the peanut plants or the like therealong, alternately forcing them upwardly along the members until they reach the depending ends 40, from which they are passed to any suitable trailing vehicle or the like, adapted for the reception thereof.

Referring back now to the rear axle or main axle M the same is provided, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, with a relatively large gear wheel 50 secured adjacent one extremity thereof.

reduction gear 5! mounted on the jack shaft 33 thus rotating the same as the rear wheels 13 The gear 50 is adapted to mesh with and engage a;

are rotated by the forward motion of the device.

The jack shaft 3| also carries at opposite extremities thereof, one being positioned interiorly of the gear 5|, sprocket wheels 52 and 53, re-

spectively. The sprocket wheel 52 is adapted to engage a chain 54 which, in turn, engages a sprocket wheel 55 carried by the crank shaft 3!. The sprocket wheel 53 on the opposite end of the shaft is engaged by a chain 56 which, in turn, drives a sprocket wheel 51 carried by the eccentric shaft 26.

Thus from the foregoing it will be seen that as the Wheels l3 revolve the gear 50 is, in turn,

revolved rotating the gear 5! which drives the shaft 33, and that by means of the sprockets 52 and 53 and the chains 54 and 56, the eccentric shafts 3! and 26 are correspondingly rotated, thus affecting the reciprocatory movements of the alternately disposed members 39, and their associated digging points 44.

Thus from the foregoing it will be seen that as the device moves forwardly alternate points 44 dig slightly into the ground, and lift the peanut plants, which, in turn, are carried by the teeth 4| back upwardly alongfthe members 39 and finally dropped by the extremities 40 into the receptacle provided therefor. It will also be seen that the reciprocatory movement of the members 39 thoroughly shakes and shocks the plants during their passage thereover.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device accomplishing all the objects of this invention and others includ- "mounted on said shafts, longitudinally extending hollow members alternately secured to said crank arms, lifting means at the extremities of said members, and means driven by said drive wheels v for rotating said shafts hence reciprocating said members, said reciprocating members being provided on their upper surfaces with angularly disposed serrations, said lifting means including lifters having stub shafts secured thereto, springs encircling each stub shaft and abutting said,

members for resiliently mounting said lifters, slots in said members, pins on said stub shafts slidably received in said slots.

CHARLES T. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,479,385 Hurst Jan. 1, 1924 2,297,065 McLendon Sept. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 122,256 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1919 327,806 Italy July 18, 1935 OTHER REFERENCES Reed, Developments in Peanut Harvesting Equipment, Agr. Eng, vol. 25, N0. 4 (Apr. 1944),

, pp. 125, 126, 12s. d 

